Well-being

Well-being

Rotorua Lakes Council is committed to creating a workplace environment where the health and well-being of team members is highly valued. We operate a workplace wellness programme called “WorkWell” in partnership with Toi Te Ora Public Health and have the highest Workwell Accreditation – GOLD. Under our , we provide initiatives to support team members in the following target areas:

  1. Healthy Eating
  2. Physical Activity
  3. Smoke-free
  4. Safe drinking and drug-free
  5. Sun Safety
  6. Mental Wellbeing
  7. Infection and Immunisation Control

Our Health and Safety Policies and Procedures Manual provides wellbeing information. It’s our responsibility to proactively encourage team members wellbeing in these areas. Council has an active WorkWell committee that meet regularly and we welcome new members and input.

Manager responsibilities
  • Ensure your team are trained for their duties.
  • Monitor workloads and hours worked to avoid overloading people.
  • Monitor holidays to ensure staff are taking their full holidays.
  • Discuss potential staff wellbeing issues with your manager/ Organisational Development and Capability.
  • Carefully monitor all sickness absences where stress may be a factor.
  • Discuss abnormal absence patterns with your manager/ Organisational Development and Capability.
  • Encourage your team to participate in health and wellbeing programmes.
  • Where possible, support team members with manageable health problems or disabilities to remain in work.
  • Support team members on their return to work following sickness absence.

 

Wellbeing related benefits

We offer staff a range of benefits to enhance their wellbeing. These include:

    • Free staff access to the Rotorua Aquatic Centre.
    • Flu injections.
    • Subsidised eye tests for those who use vdus for at least three hours a day. Refer to Eye Test Policy.
    • Health monitoring in safety sensitive areas where there are known hazards.
    • Social Club – regular social events and activities to get to know team mates.
    • Discounted Southern Cross health insurance
    • Workstation assessments organised through the health and safety team.
    • Rehabilitation from the misuse of drugs and/or alcohol (see drug and alcohol policy).
    • Smoking cessation programme.
    • Bicycles provided for staff use.
    • Physical activities such as the Ekiden Relay, Bikewise Challenge, Crankworx, Walking Wednesdays, walking meetings, green corridor etc
    • Supporting healthy eating options.

 

Work place support

Assistance Available: We provide staff with access to an independent Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The aim of the service is to provide staff with a confidential and professional source of advice on issues of concern to them.  As a manager you can refer your staff to Benestar or 0800 360 364 (24 x 7 x 365) for help. Council will pay for up to 3 sessions with a counsellor. (Note: Organisational Development and Capability receive the invoices and meet the cost).

Types of issues EAP can assist with
  • Stress and pressure – personal or work
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Workplace issues and changes
  • Bullying and harassment support
  • Anger and conflict issues
  • Relationship and family matters
  • Grief and loss
  • Addictions
  • Life transition and personal development
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Career planning
  • Budgeting and financial assistance
  • Trauma

 

Medical Incapacity

We are entitled to terminate a team member’s employment as a result of physical or mental illness where they are incapable of proper ongoing performance of their duties. We have a process managing these cases and where you believe such termination a possibility you should have early discussions with your manager/ Organisational Development and Capability.

 

Flexible Work

Flexible work is the opportunity for people to make changes to:

  • the hours they work (over a day, a week or year)
  • the times and days they work
  • where they work.

Flexible work also affects :

  • how careers are organised
  • how transitions in and out of work are managed
  • how work is managed in the workplace so that employees and businesses benefit.

Why flexible work is good for everyone

Flexible work can benefit employees, employers, the economy, communities and the environment.

Having flexible work arrangements is becoming an important part of New Zealand workplaces. A pressing issue for many New Zealanders is trying to balance work with other things in their lives, such as caring for children or older parents, playing sport or working in the community. We are also working longer hours and taking longer getting to and from work – flexible work helps to accommodate this. Many employers are offering flexible working arrangements to attract and retain employees and to support them to do other important things in their lives.[/su_spoiler]

All employees have a right to request flexible work

All employees have a right to request a change to their working arrangements, from the first day of their employment. They must make their request in good faith. Employees can make as many requests as they wish in a year.

 

Employers must respond to requests within 1 month, in writing and must consider and answer requests in good faith. Employers can only refuse flexible working arrangements on these grounds.

This guide covers everything that employers and employees need to know about flexible working arrangements.